Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-22


The Captain, who saw his mistake,
was instantly appcascd He patted
Tad on the shoulder in thcmost friend
ly manner imaginable, and after clear
ing his throat told him in n low tone
that Solomon hit the nail square on the
head when he said that there's Provi-
dcncc that shapes our ends, refuse them
as much as we've mind to, and then.
remembering that the small sachel was
still in Tad's possession, he got together
his writing materials, aud, with the
help of the business Mans Assistant"
and Every Man His Own Lawyer"
drew up the following notice for publi-
cation:
"To An Whom It May Concern;
"Be Il known that on the evening OF March
"a 49,, a certain party left on a scat in the
Broad Street Station, city Of Philadelphia, o
handbag supposed 20 contain valuables. Now,
therefore, II said party shall at the time Of
reading this notification, or rs soon thereafter
ward as may be possible, communicate by let
ter with the subscriber, describing said bag, to-
gcther with such other information as shall
satisfy the subscriber aforesaid that said re-
spondent Is tho true and lawful owner thereof,
the handbag before mentioned will be duly re-
turn'd on the payment OF the sum Of Ave ooi.
lars, 10 cover expenses Of advertising etc.
(Slgncd) CAPTAIN JETHRO FLAGG.
Residence, Rixport, State Of Maine"
Having finished this rather rcmarka-
bic production, Captain Flagg read II
aloud for the cdiication of Tad and
Joe Whitney, who had just returned
f,nm the kitchen.
"Iain't the way I'd put Il, Uncle
Jcth," remarked the irreprcssiblc Joe.
with his mouth full Of doughnut and
suspicious bunchincss about his
pockets, as Captain Flagg laid down
the paper with a look of conscious
pride. "Td just say: Found in Broad
Street station, Philadelphia, on such
and-such 4 night, a handbag. Prove
Property and pay charges. Address
Captain Jethro Flagg, Bixport,
Maine"
Captain Flagg regarded his auda-
cious nephew with look in which
mild indignation was blended with
pity. "Mebbe you would, Joseph" he
said, with some severity. "mcbbe you
would; but, considerin' that I'm Jest q
few years older'n you, I've took the
liberty Of doin' this my own way"
"All right, Uncle Jeth," returned
the unabashed youth, ''if you don't
mind. don't, I'm sure. Say, Tad, y
he remarked. briskly, turning to the
secretly amused youth, "how'd you
like me TO go over 10 Miss Smiths in
the morning and speak good word
for you, ehPn
I'D like you to 90 with me ever SC
much," warmly replied Tad. He did
not rely much upon Joe's verbal rec
ommendation. but he had sort OF
feeling that the moral support Of hi:
presence would be & great deal.
"Tll call for you right after break
fast" briefly returned Joe, with twin
kle in the eye, that, had Polly been
present, she would have understood al
once to mean mischief. But she was
helping Mrs. Flagg with supper prep
arations, and the Captain was busy
sending on the copies of his notice "a
a couple of city papers, so Tad had nc
warning as 10 Joe Whitney's love oi
practical jokes. And all the way home
Joe choked down certain little twingcs
of conscience, by representing to him
self that it was "only little fun, any
way" an excuse which l fancy ha,
been common to mischievOus you'll
from the tabled stoning of the frog
down 10 the present day.
Miss Smith was " shooing" som'
hens ont of her yard as Joe came by
the house, and he at once volunteere,
his services with marked success. Send
ing the last hen shrieking across tn,
street with n stick following closely a
her tail-feathers, Joe closed the gat,
carefully.
"Oh, l say. Miss Smith," he re
marked, as he was turning away, ..
told Tad-the boy that Uncle Jeil
brought home this trip-that I'd conn
over with him in the morning he
sort Of bashful with strangers.
"Nobody'd accuse you Of any thini
of the kind. Joe Whitney" was Mis-
Smiths uncompromising answer. Sh'
was tall, thin, angular and forty, witt
a good heart, but rather uncertain TEN
per. And Joe was not a prime favor
ite with Miss Smith, by reason o
his rather peculiar tendencies to mis-
chief.
"Tad's a real good boy, guess.
said Joe. ignoring the personality, "bu
If he's as hard Of hearin' as Uncle Jetl
says-for heard him say Tad was dee
as a haddock you'll have to holler lik'
old boots to make him hear And
without waiting to be questioned far
ther, Joe scuddcd homeward.
True to his promise, Joe was OF
hand bright and early on the following
morning. Captain Flagg had gone
down to superintend the discharge %
the "Mary Us" cargo, and Mrs
Flagg was in the kitchen. Only Polly
and Bounce followed the two boys u
the gate.
Remember. nowl no tricks-Joe,' y
called out Polly. warningly; "goot
luck to you Tad" and she waved hcl
hand encouragingly as the lattel
turned with very full heart, to looh
back at the old home whose occupants
had given him 50 friendly reception
"Oh, isn't this nice!" said Tad. en-
Enthusiastically, as he drew in great
breath Of the sweet, pure air, and
looked at the quiet beauty Of the land,
scapc about him. Behind the village
rose a range Of spruce and pine COW
cred hills. All round were fertile
farms, and, in the eyes Of the city-bred
boy. BiNport and its surrounding.
seemed q sort Of miniature Paradise.
mot so bad patronizingly assent.
ed his companion. And as they crossed